Frederick van de water



(No Mode-1.)

F. VAN DE WATER.

BELT TIGH'IENER. v

Patented oct. 14-

limitan Strains n Partnr tries.

FREDERICK VAN DE WATER, OF XVIIIIEWATER, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE ESTERLY t SON, OF SAME PLACE.

Baratier-trenes.

le' JECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,560, dated October 14, 1884.

Application filed June 16, 1884.

To CLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK VAN DE WATER, of Whitewater, in the county of NValworth and State of Visconsin, have invented.

certain Improvements in Belt-Tighteners, of

which the following is a specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide a simple and convenient means of Vtightening driving chains and belts, and also to provide,

in this connection, for the universal movelnent of a driven pulley with respect to the drivingpulley.

My improvements are applicable to many classes ot' machinery-such, for example, as

harvestingmachines, drilling-machines, and

engraving-machines.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a top view of my improved mechanism, the bearings of the driven shaft being represented in section. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section on the line :l: w of Fig. 1.. Fig. 3 represents a rear elevation ofthe 1nechanism,looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a slightly-modified form of a portion of the device.

In the drawings, A represents abase or support provided with bearings or pillow-blocks B, which give support to opposite ends of a horizontal shaft, O. This shaft is heldfrmly 3o in the bearings by means of stirrup-bolts I), passing over its top and thence downward through the base A, with nuts applied to its lower ends. At each end the shaft C is provided with an eccentric, E, which gives sup- 3 5 port to the arms or branches of a standard, F, the standard being .ree to rock forward and backward around ,f he eccentrics as a center to a limited extent while supported thereon. The upper end of the standard is forked or di- 4o vided into two arms, the ends of which are fashioned into or provided with bearings to support the opposite ends of a horizontal shaft, G, which revolves freely therein, and one end of which is provided with a pulley,

H, driven by a chain, I, from a driving-puiley, J, which is mounted loosely upon the end of the first-mentioned shaft C at the base. The pulley J revolves loosely on the lower shaft, which remains normally in a fixed position. In the event of the chain becoming (No model.)

slack, it is only necessary to rotate the shaft C, the effect of which will be to turn the eccentrics E, which give support to the standard,

shaft against rotation, it. is to be understood 6g',

that a worm-wheel and worm, anotched lockingwheel with a dog to engage therein, or any of the other equivalents known in the art for like purposes may be substituted.

The essence of the invention consists in sup- 7C porting the standard, by means ot' the eccentrics, in such manner that it may be moved in an endwise direction, and so long as this mode of operation is retained the details may be modified to any extent desired. 7 5

Around the uppershaft, G, directly thereon, or upon the journals formed on the standard,

I mount a horizontal frame, K, the opposite end of which gives support to a horizontal shaft, L, provided with a pulley, M, driven 8o by a chain, N, from a pulley, O, secured to the shaft G, before alluded to. The shaft Lis' not mounted directly in the frame K, but within a tubular box or bearing, l?, the exterior sur- `face of which is made cylindrical and eccentric to the axis of the shaft. By rotating this tubular bearing the shaft L will be moved to and from the driving-shaft G, and thus the distance between the pulleys M 'and O increased or diminished, so as to tighten or loosen the belt N, as may be demanded.

Inasmuch as the frame K, which supports the bearing l? and shaft L, is arranged to swing about an axis coincident with that of the driving-shaft G, it follows that the frame K and shaft L may be swung upward and downward without affecting the tension of the chain N.

I propose to provide one end of the tubular bearing P with a hand-lever, as indicated in dotted lines, or with an angular hub, or with loo a series of holes,k or otherwiseto adapt it to ref eccentrics thereon, means, substantially as deceive a device bywhich to effect its rota-ry adjustment. I also propose to combine with the tubular bearing a locking device of any suitable character to prevent its accidental rotation.I A sim-ple means for this purpose convsists of va set-screw, Q, seated in the frame K, and acting against the bearing, as=shown`= i-n= Figs. l and 2.

From the foregoing description it will be perceived that means are provided for the adjustment of the driving-chains I and N independently of each other, and that by the em ployment of the swinging standard F and the swinging frame K, jointed thereto, I am' enabled to move the shaft L both vertically and horizontally at will without affecting; the tension or action of the chains onbelts'.

While I have represented the shaft as arranged in ahorizontal position, it' will betob*- vious to the mechanic that the" entire organif-` z zation` may be turnedl u7pon its side to'brifn'gitss shafts into a vertical positiony when required.

It will also'be manifest that theswinging standard may be employed in connection witht'he shafts at its two extremities, and with thel eccentrics, for eecting: the adjustment of the I pulley M and its shaft L, the eccentric'sleeve 1 or bearing P, and the` support therefor, ar-

chains independently of the frame'K and shaft L; also, that the eccentric-bearing. P and framfcvK may be employed, in connection with a fixed support, in place-of the swinging stand.- ard F, the means forxadjusting the'two chainsbeing, in other words, capable of use inde-r pendent of'each other.

. While it is desirable in ordinary cases to mount a driving-pulley, LT, loosely onf th-e'shaft C, the latter may be made tubular' and the shaft mounted on a separate sleeve or pulley extended through the same, as represented in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention,I what I `claim is 1. rIhe combination of a shaft and a pirlley thereon, a second shaft provided with ak pulley, a'belt or chainl connecting said pulleys, eccentrics mounted on the rst shaft, and a standard or support mounted at one end upon said eccentrics, and adapted at the opposite end to sustain the second shaft, substantially as described and shown,r whereby the rotation of the eccentrics is causedv to vary thedist-ance between the shafts, andthus regulatev the tenzsion of the belt or chain.

2. In. combi-nation with-'theV shaft C and the scribed, for supporting and locking said shaft. the frame or standard F, mounted upon and arranged to swing about said eccentrics, the shaft G, mountedinthefreeend of saidiram-e,

,the two pulleys mounted on the respective f shafts, andthe intermediate chain or belt.

` H, and beltv or chain I.

4. The combination of a shaft provided with f a pulley, the tubular bearing therefor having its circumference eccentric thereto, anda support in which. said bearing is'vadarpted to.` turn,

t whereby the: rotation of the sleeve is camsed A tov adjust the tensionof' the: chain or belltv acting on the pulley'.y

5; Theshaft LT the-tubular eccentric-.bearing provided"V with! means, substantially as shown, by which to effect its rotation, a. supip'ortV for said bearing; and a locking device,

1 against rotation.

6. Thepu'lleys O", the chain. or pulley N, the

ranged to revolve: about a center coincident with. the axis. of the pulrley'O., y

7. In combination with the: shaft L, the eccentric-sleeve P, thesupportK, encirclilngthe sleeve, and the screw It, applied.' ask shown...

8'.. rThe swinging'. standard F, the shaft sustained thereby, and the frame K, arranged FREDERICK VAN DE WATER'- Vitnessesr.

A. MURRAY, E. Cass. 

